Provo Library Children's Book Blog

The illustrations in picture books are powerful. They can either back up the text of a story or they can be the text of the story. Here are five new picture books that are wordless—or nearly wordless. They only tell the story through their illustrations. They are perfect for kids who like finding more meaning through the illustrations. They are books that often take longer to read than picture books with words. They are powerful. Enjoy!  Corner By Zo-O  Berkley, CA: Owlkids Books, 2023. Picture Book.  Crow finds themselves in a corner. Crow gets bored. Crow decides to do something—adding a bed and decorations to the corner to make it homier. Still, Crow is bored. Then crow decides to see if there is more that can be done. This is a great story full of imagination and the power of action.  Field Trip to Volcano Island By John Hare  New York: Holiday House, 2022. Picture Book  A class field trip lands on Volcano Island. One particular student gets left behind...

The Duck Never Blinks By Alex Latimer  New York: Roaring Brook Press, 2023. Picture Book.  There is a duck and the duck never blinks. The unseen narrator tries over and over again to get the duck to blink…to no avail! Readers will laugh as the narrator’s emotions start to escalate or when the duck responds (just not by blinking) to various things that the narrator does. And then there is the ending—where readers (but not the narrator) will enjoy the duck’s final response to all that the narrator does. This is a great book with humor tucked into each illustration of the duck and the narrator’s responses. Try this out with a group of story time kids or an elementary school class that like the idea of a book breaking the fourth wall.

Recently I have posted some of my favorite audio books for Younger Elementary School Kids and Elementary School Kids . But don’t you all worry—I also have some new favorite audio books for Older Elementary School Kids. These are the audio books that sometimes deal with a bit more complexity in the plot or characters. Or perhaps there are some themes that need an older kid to completely understand. But nonetheless, they are all great books that will leave readers thinking long after the audio goes quiet. Enjoy!  Cuba in My Pocket  Written by Adrianna Cuevas  Narrated By Anthony Rey Perez  Dreamscape Media, LLC, 2021. Duration: 05:43:41  Cumba is a 12-year-old who lives in Cuba in 1961. Cumba’s parents decide it isn’t safe to continue to live in Cuba since Castro might start requiring kids or teenagers to join the military, so they send him to live in Miami. However, living away from all his family in a new country and trying to learn a new language leaves Cumba ...

Sincerely Sicily By Tamika Burgess New York, NY: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Fiction. 283 pages. Sicily is a proud Black Panamanian with excellent fashion taste and even cooler braids, but her confidence is shaken when she starts sixth grade. After a rezoning of school boundaries, Sicily is forced to start the school year without the safety and familiarity of her best friends. As she deals with prejudice and questions about her heritage, both at school and at home, Sicily must decide who is she is and who she wants to become. This is an excellent book that highlights Sicily's changing and ever-growing identity. Sicily is determined, smart, and such a fun character. The book does really well in handling more difficult topics, such as culture vs. race. The author draws upon some of her own life experiences, lending to the credibility of the story. Sincerely Sicily is an incredible read and definitely a great way to start the school year. 

Horton Hears a Who By Dr. Seuss New York: Random House, 1954. Picture Book. A city of Whos on a speck of dust are threatened with destruction until the smallest Who of all helps convince Horton's friends that Whos really exist. --Publisher The Crossover By Kwame Alexander Boston; New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014. Fiction. 237 pages. Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health. --Publisher Shrek! By William Steig New York: Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 1990. Picture Book. Horribly hideous Shrek leaves home and terrifies everyone he encounters in his search for his equally ugly bride. --Publisher The Invention of Hugo Cabaret By Brian Selznick New York: Scholastic, 2007. Fiction. 533 pages. When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toy seller and his goddaughter, his undercover life an...

It is still hot here in Provo, but September is almost here and it is time to get in the mood for fall. I’m thinking about woodland animals, falling leaves, and cozy topics. Here are some books to get you and your kids in that autumn mood. Acorn Was a Little Wild Written by Jen Arena Illustrated by Jessica Gibson New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2022. Picture Book. This little acorn is anxious to get off the tree and have some adventures. Not long after he falls off the tree, a squirrel buries him in the ground and he has no choice but to wait in the dark. As he waits, some exciting changes happen and he begins to grow into a beautiful oak tree. A Very Big Fall  By Emmy Kastner Boston: Clarion Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2022. Picture Book. Being a leaf is great when the weather is good and the view is beautiful. But as the weather starts to change, these different leaves have to adjust to the cold air. The squirrels help them learn about th...

Sweet Suzy: Everyone Is Special    Written by Joni Bosch  Illustrated by Aiko Graven  New York: Clavis Publishing Inc., 2023. Picture Book.  Suzy is trying to figure out what makes her special. She decides to talk with her animal friends to see what their special talents are. Rat is good at telling jokes, Ostrich can run fast, and Elephant is a great teacher. It seems easy to see what makes each of her friends special, but harder to see for herself. Suzy might just need help from her friends to see what makes her so special.   A cute, heartwarming story paired with beautiful illustrations! This story is a good read for any audience and can be a great starter to discussing how each person has their own unique talents.  

 Are you looking for fun ways to build an interest in math without having to look through boring informational books? Try one of these stories about math: Friends Beyond Measure By Lalena Fisher New York: Harper, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Picture Book. If you are looking for a fun, easy way to talk about graphs with your kids, this is my new favorite book on the subject. Each page has a different tool used to measure, from time lines, to bar graphs, to Venn diagrams. Homeschoolers could make a week's worth of lessons from the content on its pages. And to boot, it's a sweet story about the love friends have with each other and the difficulty when a friend moves away. Again, Essie? Written by Jenny Lacika Illustrated by Teresa Martinez Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge Publishing, 2022. Picture Book. In this story, Rafael needs to protect his toys from his younger sister. So while she's taking a nap, he decides to build a barrier between her and his room. He gat...

Simon and the Better Bone By Corey R. Tabor New York, NY: Balzer + Bray, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Picture Book. Simon and the Better Bone follows the same signature style Corey Tabor introduced readers to in his Caldecott Honor winner,  Mel Fell . However, this time instead of a kingfisher bird we meet an adorable dog named Simon. Arranged vertically, the top half of the spread depicts Simon himself while the lower half shows another strange dog (that unbeknownst to Simon is actually his reflection in the surface of a pond.) What follows is a series of comical events as Simon tries to get the better bone his rival has, and ends with a sweetly redemptive act of kindness. Sure to warm your heart, make you chuckle, and catch your eye with its soft illustrations and unique layout, Simon and the Better Bone , is one you'll come back to time and again. 

One of the keys to helping reluctant readers find books books that they want to read, is helping them find books that appeal to them and get them excited about reading. If you have a reader who enjoys books about real life issues, challenges, friendships and family, check out one of these books. Simon Sort of Says Written by Erin Bow Los Angeles; New York: Disney-Hyperion, 2023. Fiction. 305 pages. Simon and his parents have just moved to Grin and Bear It, Nebraska, a small town located in a National Quiet Zone - with no internet, cell service, or television. Simon is looking for a fresh start in order to get away from the instant fame of surviving a school shooting. Things are going well for Simon since nobody can google him, but the worry that he will be discovered is always in the back of his mind. But as Simon makes new friends he starts to worry less about being discovered and enjoys the friendships he is making.  Simon and his friends Kevin and Agate, are eccentric fun charac...

School started back up again last week and with that comes all kinds of emotions! Excitement for a new year, sadness that summer is over, and fear of the unknown. A new school year means lots of changes, and to help with those changes here are five picture books about back to school experiences! Back to School Backpack Written by Simon Rich Illustrated by Tom Toro New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. The first day of school can be a little scary for everyone, even your backpack! This funny picture book is all from the perspective of a backpack. Backpack has books shoved down its throat, is left on sticky floors, and can't even see where it is going as it is walked down the halls. Just like everyone, Backpack just wants to find friends to make school even better! Mr. S By Monica Arnaldo New York, NY: Katherine Tegen Books, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers, 2023. Picture Book. A class of Kindergarteners show up on the first day of school and instead of findin...

Around the World: Bathing All Over the Globe Written by Wade Bradford Illustrated by Micha Archer Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2017. Informational. A look at bathtime around the world explores the many ways in which people bath. -Publisher Bathe the Cat Written by Alice B. McGinty Illustrated by David Roberts San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books, 2021. Picture Book. Dad has posted a list of chores for the family to do before grandma comes, including bathing the cat; but the cat does not want a bath, so she mixes up the instructions, and soon the family is mowing the floor, vacuuming the lawn, mopping the baby--and the house is in chaos. -Publisher Nat the Cat Takes a Bath By Jarrett Lerner New York: Simon Spotlight, 2023. Easy Reader. Nat the Cat must take a bath. But first, he wants his toys. Then he won't get in the tub without bubbles. And of course, he'll need a towel. As Nat the Cat keeps coming up with excuses to not get in the bath, the narrator can't help but wonde...

  Wishing Season By Anica Mrose Rissi New York: Quill Tree Books, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, 2023. Fiction. 228 pages. Lily has always been part of a twosome with her twin brother Anders. That is until Anders passes away after a cancer diagnosis that was caught too late. Lily's mom is constantly sad and doesn't care anymore whether or not Lily brushes her teeth or eats her dinner. She's even giving much of their dwindling savings to a psychic who claims that she can talk to Anders from beyond the grave. Lily has a secret though; she can talk to Anders herself. She can only see him in the special field behind their house where they spent summers playing together. But as time goes on and she begins to gain friends outside their little field, the "overlap" (the place where they can both be) gets smaller and smaller until Lily worries that she'll lose Anders forever. This is a beautiful story about grief and how it changes the lives of those who are t...

Sometimes it's hard for kids to make friends. It really is a learned skill that we can help our children develop. Here are a few good picture books that teach how to make and keep friends. I Am a Great Friend! By Lauren Stohler New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2023. Picture Book. A boisterous and splashy capybara isn't sure some of the birds want to be friends with him. His mother explains that even though he does fun things, he has to do things the birds like too. It's a great lesson on finding things in common with friends. A New Friend Written by Lucy Menzies Illustrated by Maddy Vian London: Frances Lincoln Children's Books, 2022. Picture Book. This book follows Joe, who is a new kid that is nervous to make friends and Mae, who has made it her mission to befriend the new kid. The book follows both kids at the same time and would be a great tool for thinking about how other friends feel. A Friend for Ghost By Suzanne Kaufman New York City: Holiday House, 2...

Greenwild By Pari Thomson New York: Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2023. Fiction. 364 pages. Daisy Thistledown is running away. Her journalist mother just disappeared on her latest assignment, leaving Daisy stranded at a horrible boarding school. When she realizes the headmistress of her school intends her harm, Daisy makes her escape and ends up in a magical world of mystical plants and animals called the Greenwild. Daisy soon discovers that this fantastical hidden realm, which works to preserve flora and fauna from around the world, is being threatened by the same people behind her mother's disappearance. Daisy resolves to put a stop to these sinister villains and to find her missing mother herself. This fun, fast-paced fantasy will be sure to draw readers in with its exciting plot and the detailed illustrations throughout. Daisy's experiences with loneliness and lack of connection both at the boarding school and when she first arrives in the Greenwild will resonate with audien...

When it comes to back-to-school season, ABC books (also called abecedaries) tend to dominate the scene. I get it. If you're starting the school year, you're most likely gearing up to talk about the alphabet and learn about all the different letters. But something almost as fun as letters is numbers. If back to school makes you think about counting 123, then here are some awesome counting books for you! How to Count to ONE: (And Don't Even Think About Bigger Numbers!) Written by Caspar Salmon Illustrated by Matt Hunt Lincoln, MA: Nosy Crow Inc., 2023. Picture Book. Do you think that you're so smart? Do you think that you can count all the numbers really high? That's great, but this book only wants you to count to one. We are just mastering counting to one. Of course, you could always try to outsmart the book. But who would want to do that? This is a very fun and goofy interactive book that will have older kids dying to practice their counting -- well past the number ...

Show and Smell Written by Deanna Kent Illustrated by Neil Hooson Random House Children's Books, 2023. Comics. 56 pages. Four wide-eyed and adorable aliens are roused one morning with the chance to visit Earth.  In their attempt to find out the best way to learn about Earth and it's people, they turn to their intergalatic computer for answers.  Unfortunately, it's on the fritz and through a misguessed word, the aliens are mistakenly sent on a search for Earth's smelliest smells. Marshmallow Martians is a delightfully silly read.  The four colorful little aliens have an unending enthusiasm and energy about them which makes them endearing protagonists.  Younger readers who love a little bit of gross humor will get a kick out of all the stinky smells the aliens collect, and the final show and smell on their ship is a great finale to this goofy good time. 

Board books are an amazing way to introduce young readers to books, especially with their sturdy pages. These five board books were all published this year, and they're some of the best! Each one has some humor, great illustrations, and is sure to delight young and older readers alike. Peekaboo Rex! By Sandra Boynton New York City: Boynton Bookworks, 2023. Board Book. A T. rex plays a game of peekaboo with his other, smaller dinosaur friend, but the smaller dinosaur always finds the T. rex, no matter how well he tries to hide! Another adorable book by Boynton that will encourage young readers to play, and love, the game of peekaboo. Big Kids No Everything  By Wednesday Kirwan New York: Little Simon, 2023. Board Book. In a hilarious play on words, this board book highlights a child’s favorite word: “No!” The book highlights different kinds of no, such as a “small nos.” As children say “no,” time after time, they eventually learn when to say “yes.” An important book in helping childr...